Meter mount



H. JENSEN Nov. 28, 1950 METER MOUNT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 11, 1945 Srwentor Hm as J's/us (Ittorneg H. JENSEN METER MOUNT Nov. 28, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 11, 1945 P13 10 /LGE ft NSF QM; 4L4

(Ittotneg Patented Nov. 28, 1950 UNITED .S TATES PATENT Frl'CE 253L514 METER MOUN'I pany, Newark, N. J.

Application April 11, 1945, S'EriEiYNOJSSZ'SOS Claims. 1

This invention relates to panels for electric meters and associated current conductors and current responsive devices.

One object of the invention is to provide a panel for a plurality of metered lines, the panel having provision for mounting a plurality of meters for said lines in alignment in a rowand for mounting current responsive devices forsaid lines, respectively, at one end of the row of meters, the arrangement being such that the several conductors in the panel ex ten'd longitudinally of the panel without crossing each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a panel unit which can be used alone or which ca'n -be assembled with one ormore sim'ilar units, eachunit-having means formounting currentresponsive devices for the metered lines, respectively-atone endof the row of meters.

A further object of the invention is to .provide a-meterpanel or panel =unithaving one or more meter sockets and associated current disconnect -means, respectively, with means accessible through the meter sockets for connecting the outgoing lines without requiring access to zthe disconnect a devices.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description, reference being had to. the accompanying illustractive drawings of a preferred embodiment of vthe finvention.

' In "the drawings:

"Fig. lisa front view of a meter panel assembly embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view, in elevation and1on *a Ilargerscale, of the-upper portion-of a panel unit;

Fig. 3 is a view similar toFig. .2 with parts omitted for the purpose of illustration;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, on a largerscale, on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a front View of one of the terminal blocks utilized in each panel unit illustrated-in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on-the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view, in -elevation,cof the lower edge of the terminal block illustrated inFig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '9 is a sectional view, one. larger scale, on the line 99 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a terminal block and a companion meter terminal memberinposition;

Fig. 1-1 i's a detailed sectional view on the :line

lll l "ofJF ig. .10. Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is illustrated in Fig. 1 ameter panel assembly .ID embodying the present invention. Said assembly comprises a plurality of panel :units i2 arranged in side by side :relation .in association with :a supply line trough alkl disposed therebelow, with a service switch box I S mounted on trough Ill, and with aload .side rpull abox -.I-8 mounted at the upper:endsiof saidzpanel units. The supply lines for the several "panel units arezdisposed and enclosed within trough .M for "connection to the branch bus "lines 20 and 22 "in ,eachpanel unit. Said branch lines extend longitudinally of the panel unit and :haveconnectedthereto the meter socket input terminals which engage :the input terminals of the meter when the latter is mounted in its socket.

Referring .now :more particularly to the construction of the meter .p'anelunit l2, the latter comprises -ametal receptacle having -a=rear wall 24, opposite side walls 26, an upper end wall 26, and 'a lower end wall 30. .The front or meter mounting wallrof-panel unit 1 2 is-constituted by a plurality of cover. plates -32 disposed in end to end relation along thelength-of the-panel unit, each cover plate ;32 :having secured to its inner surface a 5133113 34 @which projects from the lower end thereof and is overlapped by theupper end of the next lower plate for the full width thereof. Each :cover plate has inturned side portions-35 which overlap theeforward inwardly oifsetportions'38 of the .side walls 2-3 of thepanel unit (Fig. 9). Each cover ,plate ,32 is provided with a meter-socket'llfl and an opening 42 for disconnect means, said last mentionedopening having a-sealable-zcover-M pivotally-mounted at one end thereof-omitscompanion-cover plate 32. Each meter socket is provided with a fixed strap by which said .coverplate is'secured to the panel unit.

:Panel unit 12 is provided with ,pairs of companion .cro ssstraps 48- andjll disposed in vertically spaced. relation at .points longitudinally of the panel.unit,- there being a.pair of-straps 453 and, for each-meter socket lfl. Asillustrated in Fig. 9 each strap 5! .is secured at its-opposite ends to side \vallsifiofthepanelnnit receptacle. .Each strap .8 is similarly secured-at. its .oppositeen'dsfto walls 26. Strap 48 hassecured theretoan insulation-block'52 provided with clip terminals 54 for engagement by theinput terminalsof themeter when the latter is .mounted in its. socket. Said block-52 is securedin positionto strap 48 bya bolt 5% which passes through an opening 58 in said block and through an opening 60 in strap 46 of socket where the nut 62 of bolt 56 engages said strap for holding the latter against insulation block The branch buses 26 and 22 are elec trically connected to terminal clips 54 by conductor members 64. It will be understood that the terminal clips 55 of the several meter sockets are all in parallel relation with the branch buses 28 and 22. It will be observed that branch buses 22 and 22, which extend longitudinally of the panel unit receptacle are disposed rearwardly of straps and 59 and are connected to the clips 5d of terminal block 52 by forwardly projecting conductor strips (34. The other cross strap 58 of each pair of cross straps located in position at each meter socket is utilized for mounting a terminal block 66 which will now be described in further detail as it constitutes one of the important features of the present invention.

Each terminal block 66, there being one for each meter socket, comprises a molded insulation body 68 which has secured thereto a pair of terminal clips H) which are engaged by the output terminals of the meter mounted in the companion socket. The upper end of block 83 is provided with a pair of separated recesses 72 in which the disconnect means it, one for each side of the companion metered line, are disposed. As illustrated in Fig. 4, recesses 72 are disposed in align ment with the opening :2 provided in the companion cover plate 32 and are covered by a sealable closure 44. The disconnect means is are connected to terminal clips III by conductor strips 26 which project through openings I8 in the carrier wall 82. Strips "It thus extend from one side of the barrier wall to the other. A screw ii secures one end of said strip and terminal clip IE! to each other and to block 66. When terminal block 65 is in position the reduced end 82 of barrier wall 8;} extends into opening 32 and prevents access to the disconnect means in recesses I2.

The disconnect means I4 for each side of the companion metered line comprises a screwthreaded stud as which is electrically connected to the conductor strip 1'6 and also secures the cent end thereof to the terminal block 63. 1 nal strip 83 has an offset end portion 8'? 1' ed with an opening 88 (Fig. 8) through which stud projects, opening 88 having a larger diameter than that of stud 8t so that it does not have an electric connection directly with said stud. Strip 3% is insulated from strip I6 by a layer of insulation material. A nut 92 is threaded on stud 8 and is engageable with strip 86 for making and breaking an electrical connection between strip 86 and stud 84 thereby to make and break an electrical connection between strip 86 and strip I5. Strip 86 is thus connected in series relation with a companion terminal I0 under the control of the disconnect means just described. Testing terminals 93 are screwed into companion strips 88 and thus secure said strips to the terminal block in engagement with the face of said block. Strip 86 extends through an opening 91} in the adjacent outer end of barrier wall 85 and is integral with a downwardly extending conductor strip portion 28 which is connected to a terminal member as provided with a conductor clamping screw I 22. Terminal member 93 and the lower end of conductor strip 96 are secured to block 65 by a screw I62. It will be observed that terminals 88 of each terminal block 66 are located at the companion meter socket and are accessible therethrough, when the meter is dismounted from its socket, whereby it is unnecessary, as heretofore, to open or unseal closure 44 of the disconnect means in order to obtain access to the terminals of the disconnect means to attach the outgoing lines thereto.

Terminal block 65 is provided with an opening Ic for the passage therethrough of a bolt I06 for securing said terminal block to supporting strap 51]. Said bolt also extends through strap it of the meter socket and is provided with a nut tea which is tightened against the front surface of said stra whereby said bolt clamps terminal block 68 in position and additionally secures plate and the meter socket carried thereby to the panel unit. The intermediate wall portion IIfl formed between recesses i 2 separates the disconnect means in said recesses, respectively, from each other, said wall portion extending to the bottom of said recesses, and a barrier I I2 formed on said block centrally thereof separates the two conductor strips 76 from each other.

Each panel unit has provision for mounting current responsive means in a compartment H4 at the upper end of the panel unit receptacle whereby the current responsive devices are located in line with and at one end of the row of meters of the panel unit. Said compartment is formed between the upper end wall 23 and a partition wall IIB fixed to the rear wall 22 and to the opposite side walls of the panel unit receptacle. The current responsive means may comprise any suitable devices. In the panel unit illustrated herein provision is made for utilizing fuses as the current responsive devices as indicated by the fuse sockets I I8, one for each of the metered lines. Said fuse sockets are provided in an insulation block I29 mounted in compartment I i i. Said block I26 is secured to rear wall 2 4 by screws I22 which pass through said block from the front thereof and through spacing members I24 and are threaded into the rear wall 2 5. A metal cover plate I26 is secured to the front of block I25 by nuts I28 threaded on the forward ends of screws I30 which project through block I29 from the back to the front thereof. Plate I25 is provided with an opening I32 for access to the fuse sockets in block I26. Said plate has forwardly bent side portions I34 which engage the opposite side walls 26, respectively, of the panel unit receptacle. Cover plate I26 closes the front of the compartment but permits access to the fuse sockets. A cover I38 is provided for each compartment H4, said cover being pivoted at its upper edge to forward end wall 28.

It will be observed that terminals 98 are located at the front of straps and 55 so that the conductors connected to said terminals and leading to the current responsive devices in compartment H4 are separated by said straps from the branch bus bars or supply conductors 2i) and 22. More particularly, as here illustrated, a line I38 leads from one terminal 98 of each terminal block G6 to a companion terminal I -IB of a fuse socket. Lines I38 pass through an opening I42 in partition wall H8. The other terminal I44 of each fuse socket has connected thereto a line M8 which passes through an opening Hi8 provided in upper end wall 28, said last mentioned line passing directly or through box 8 for connection to the consumers translating devices. The other side I39 of the metered line passes through openings I52 and I59 in end wall 28 and partition wall I I6, respectively, and is connected to the other terminal 98 of the companion terminal block 66.

=Itcwill-be understoodthat the meter panel can consist of'oneireceptacleunit 12, which as here shown'has'a capacity of four metered lines, but which can'have a smaller'or a'larger'capacity, or the panel can comprise as illustrated in Fig. l a pluralit I of thepanel units'arran'ged in side by side relation. 'Thus, for example, as here shown, th'e'panel comprises two groups of panel units, each group consisting of three panel units having their adjacent side walls connected toeachother. Thuslthe capacity of the panel illustrated is 24 metered lines, there being 12 metered lines'in each group: and four metered lines in each panel unit. It-isimportant to note'that all of the metered lines in the panel units extend in the same direction, ktha't is,-:longitudinal1y of their respective panel units and do not-cross each other.

The panel units can be connected to each other in any suitable way as by riveting the sidewalls to each other preferably at the points to which the ends of straps 68 and 59 are secured to the side walls of their companion panel unit receptacle as indicated at I56 in Fig. 9. Thus, the panelunits can be supplied by the manufacturer either vindividually or in groups of two or more connected to each other in unitary relation. It will beiunders't'ood that each panel unit or a group ofv connected panel units can be providedwith any suitable means for fastening said panel units to a support.

"Thus, it is seen that the panel construction hereinbefore described is well adapted to accomplish the several objects of the present invention. It will be understood, however, that while I have shown and described the prefer -ed embodiment of my invention the latter may be embodied otherwise than as herein specifically illustrated-or described, and it will also be understood that in the above described construction certain changes in the details and in the arrangement of parts may bes'madeand will occur to skilled artisans in view of the present disclosure. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the specific construction disclosed herein except to the extent which may be required by the scope of the appended claims,

Having thus described by invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electric-meter panel for a plurality of metered lines, said panel comprising a receptacle for said lines and provided with a plurality of sockets for a plurality of meters for said lines, said sockets being arranged in alignment in a row, current-responsive devices for said lines, respectively, mounted at one end of said row of meter sockets, each of said sockets having a terminal adapted to be electrically connected to the output side of a companion meter, and a terminal adapted to be electrically connected to one of said current-iesponsive devices.

2. An electric-meter nanel for a plurality of metered lines, said panel comprising a receptacle for said lines and provided with a plurality of sockets for a plurality of meters for said lines, said sockets being arranged in alignment in a row, current-responsive devices for said lines, respectively, mounted at one end of said row of meter sockets, each of said sockets having a terminal adapted to be electrically connected to the output side of a companion meter, and a terminal adapted to be electrically connected to one of said current-responsive devices, said last mentioned terminal being accessible through the companion meter socket when the companion meter is dismounted therefrom.

'3. in; electric-meter panel "for a pmr a nty 6f metered lines, said panel *comprising a receptacl'e for said lines and provided with a *plurality of sockets for a plurality of meters for said "lines, said sockets "being arranged in alignment in a row, current-responsive devices for said "lines, respectively, mounted at one endci said row of meter sockets, each of said sockets having 'a terminal adapted to "be electrically connected "to the output side of a companion meter, and a terminal adapted to he-electrically connected to one of said current responsive devices, disconnect means in said receptacle for each of said lines Ta t the output sides of said meters, respecuv'ei said "receptacle having an opening 'for each of said means to provide access thereto, a 'sealable-closure for each of said openings, said last mentioned terminal beingaccessible for connection to and disconnection f-rom its companioh "current-responsive device when the closure of a'companion openingis sealed.

'4. An electric-meter panel for a plurality of metered lines, said panel comprising a plurality cireceptacl'e units arranged in side byside relation, each receptacle having a plurality of sockets fora plurality of meters for 'metering a'plurality of lines, respectively, a trough for housing electr-ical supply conductors and for supporting the latter in positions in which they extend transve'rs'ely of said receptacles at the lower ends thereof, conductors in said receptacles adapted to beconnected to the supply conductors in said trough, meter input terminals in said sockets in each of said receptacles connected to're'ceptacle conductors of companion receptacles, respectively, meter output terminals in said sockets of each receptacle, and a group of current res'ponsive devices at the upper end of each-of said receptaclcs adapted to be electrically connected to said output terminals of the companion "receptacle.

5. 'An electric-meter 'panel "for a plurality "of metered lines, said panel comprising a plurality of receptacle units arranged in side by side relation, each receptacle having a plurality of sockets for a plurality of meters for metering a plurality of lines, respectively, a trough for housing electrical supply conductors and for supporting the latter in positions in which they extend transversely of said receptacles at the lower ends thereof, and means at the upper end of' each receptacle unit in line with and at one end of the row of meter sockets therein for mounting a plurality of current-responsive devices, one for each of the metered lines of said receptacle unit.

6. An electric-meter panel for a plurality of metered lines, said panel comprising a group of receptacle units, each having a rear wall and opposed side walls, said receptacle units being arranged in side by side relation and having their adjacent side Walls secured to each other, each of said receptacles being provided with a plurality of sockets for a plurality of meters for said lines, said sockets being arranged in alignment in a row, current-responsive devices for said lines, respectively, mounted at one end of said row of meter sockets, each of said sockets having a terminal adapted to be electrically connected to the output side of a companion meter, and a terminal adapted to be electrically connected to one of said current-responsive devices.

7. An electric-meter panel for a plurality of metered lines, said panel comprising a group of receptacle units, each having a rear wall and 0pposed side walls, said receptacle units being arranged in abutting side by side relation, the free end portions of said side walls being ofiset inwardly to provide marginal spaces at the front of the panel between adjacent receptacles, and meter-socket plates mounted on said receptacles, respectively, at the front of the panel and having rearwardly directed side portions extending into said spaces.

8, An electric-meter panel for a plurality of metered lines, said panel comprising a receptacle having a rear wall and opposite side walls projecting forwardly from said rear wall, said side walls having inwardly offset marginal edge portions at their free ends, and meter-socket plates mounted on said receptacle at the front thereof and provided with rearwardly projecting side portions overlapping said offset marginal portions of the side walls.

9. An electric-meter panel for a plurality of metered lines, said panel comprising a receptacle L having a rear wall and opposite side walls projecting forwardly from said rear wall, a plurality of straps connected at their ends to said side walls and arranged in pairs in spaced relation longitudinally of the receptacle, two sets of terminal blocks of insulation material secured to said straps, one block of one set being secured to a similar strap of each pair and the one block of the other set being secured to the other strap of each pair, branch supply conductors extending longitudinally of said receptacle and connected to all of the terminal blocks of one set, and individual line conductors extending longitudinally of the receptacle and connected to individual blocks, respectively, of the other set of longitudinally of the receptacle, two sets of terminal blocks of insulation material secured to said straps, one block of one set being secured to a similar strap of each pair and the one block of the other set being secured to the other strap of each pair, branch supply conductors extending longitudinally of said receptacle and connected to all of the terminal blocks of one set, and individual line conductors extending longitudinally of the receptacle and connected to individual blocks, respectively, of the other set of terminal blocks, said branch supply conductors being disposed at one side of said straps and said individual line conductors being located at the opposite side of said straps. HELGE JENSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,418,897 Wcotten June 6, 1922 1,522,926 Wadsworth Jan. 13, 1925 1,667,871 Sachs May 1, 1928 1,817,034 Hotchkin Aug. 4, 1931 2,076,492 Allen Apr. 6, 1937 2,124,693 Fryer July 26, 1938 2,136,583 Corbett Nov. 15, 1938 2,137,536 McConnell Nov. 22, 1938 2,145,546 Kingdon Jan. 31, 1939 2,145,557 Rypinski Jan. 31, 1939 2,270,228 Palmer Jan. 20, 1942 2,327,048 Joyce Aug. 17, 1943 2,349,645 Young May 23, 1944 2,370,043 Johansson Feb. 20, 1945 2,377,187 Schey May 29, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 182,793 Great Britain Aug. 2, 1923 

